Last Sunday, Dr. Tufan Erhürman, a legal scholar and academic, was elected as the 6th President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Some speculation has been circulating in the Turkish press regarding his views on the Cyprus Problem and the Cyprus negotiations. The most accurate response to these speculations is to evaluate Erhürman's commitments regarding the Cyprus Problem, as outlined in his election manifesto, which is still available on his website. In this article, I will attempt to do just that for our readers.
The second heading of Erhürman's election manifesto, ‘Negotiations centred on the rights and interests of our people, solution-oriented and determined’, outlines the commitments of the 6th President of the TRNC regarding the Cyprus Problem and negotiations. In this section, the young President criticises the lack of any negotiation attempts during the term of the 5th President, Ersin Tatar, and emphasises that during his term, solution-oriented and determined negotiations will be conducted, striving to achieve concrete results for the Turkish Cypriots, who are equal founding partners of the Republic of Cyprus. In this context, criticising the energy agreements made by the Greek Cypriots without including the Turkish Cypriots, Erhürman sincerely states his support for a federal Republic of Cyprus in which Turkish Cypriots will be equal founding partners.
In the third section of the manifesto, entitled ‘Time to commence negotiations for a comprehensive solution’, Erhürman emphasises that negotiations will commence once the Greek Cypriot leadership acts in accordance with UN parameters, as highlighted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. In this regard, Erhürman, in order to avoid repeating processes that ended in failure, such as the Annan Plan and Crans-Montana, puts forward certain preconditions and takes a rational position to ensure that the TRNC can gain something if the negotiations fail, arguing as follows:
a-) Greek Cypriots must accept political equality and the rotating presidency,
b-) A timetable for negotiations must be set and work must not be delayed,
c-) A commitment must be made that the agreement reached on property will not be broken,
d-) If Greek Cypriots abandon the negotiations once again, an agreement must be reached that there will be no return to the status quo and that the TRNC will gain certain advantages.
The fourth heading in Erhürman's manifesto, entitled ‘Actions to be taken until comprehensive solution negotiations commence’, recalls the activities of the Immovable Property Commission, which operates in accordance with European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings, and opposes the prosecution of individuals and investors. Furthermore, Erhürman reacts against the deprivation of citizenship rights of children born to mixed marriages and pledges to resolve this issue. Similarly, regarding natural gas (hydrocarbon) resources, Erhürman firmly emphasises that his rights cannot be ignored. Furthermore, the new President has raised issues such as the non-delay of the direct trade regulation, the non-impediment of joint projects and aid activities due to the non-recognition of the TRNC, the permission of activities by Turkish Cypriot athletes, artists, young people and civil society members, and the opening of new crossing points.
In the fifth chapter, entitled ‘Consultation, Dialogue, Diplomacy’, Tufan Erhürman pledges to conduct the TRNC's foreign policy in consultation, dialogue, and agreement with Türkiye and to act in harmony with Ankara, the brother country and guarantor state.
These points demonstrate that Erhürman's policies are rational, decisive, and consistent with the traditional foreign policy line, except for Türkiye's reactive policy period that has developed over the last few years. If we are to interpret Erhürman's commitments, it is understood that his political aim is as follows:
- Reunify Cyprus by reaching an agreement with the Greek Cypriots and revive the Republic of Cyprus, ensuring that the status of Turkish Cypriots is permanent and compatible with the international system – or, if this is not possible,
- Establish that the Greek Cypriots are obstructing a solution and secure gains for the TRNC in matters such as recognition and participation in the free trade system.
In this sense, the stance of the 6th President is much more rational and strategically profound compared to the two-state thesis, which brings no tangible benefit to the TRNC. Those who fail to understand this and are unfamiliar with the subject reduce the issue to a pro-Turkish versus pro-Greek dichotomy, which is certainly not as simple as that. However, unlike during the Annan Plan period, if the Greeks this time close their eyes and say ‘yes’ to a solution, giving the green light to unification as the Republic of Cyprus, it will not be easy for Türkiye to accept this, let alone convince the Turkish public to accept it. Therefore, Erhürman's tactic will only be effective if the Greeks, as they always have and as the late Rauf Denktaş, the founding President of the TRNC, always said, spoil the game again... If the Greeks say ‘yes’ to the federation, it seems that Türkiye will experience a major political and diplomatic crisis and turbulent processes.
Prof. Dr. Ozan ÖRMECİ
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder